'''Woses''' is a name for the [[Drúedain]], used mainly by the [[Rohirrim]]. They were the race of [[Men]] that lived in the [[Drúadan Forest]] at the end of the [[Third Age]]. They were one of the least numerous and most mysterious races in [[Middle-earth]].

'''Woses''' is a name for the [[Drúedain]], used mainly by the [[Rohirrim]]. They were the race of [[Men]] that lived in the [[Drúadan Forest]] at the end of the [[Third Age]]. They were one of the least numerous and most mysterious races in [[Middle-earth]].

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==History==

==History==

===First Age===

===First Age===

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The Drúedain were part of the [[Edain]] who left [[Hildórien]] for the [[West]]. They were harried and persecuted by other [[Men]] and remained secretive and suspicious. They wandered west seeking a land where they could be hidden and have peace.<ref name="TD">{{UT|12}}</ref>

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The Drúedain were part of the [[Edain]] who left [[Hildórien]] for the [[West]]. They were harried and persecuted by other [[Men]] which made them secretive and suspicious. They wandered west seeking a land where they could be hidden and have peace.<ref name="TD">{{UT|12}}</ref>

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Historians in [[Gondor]] believed that they came from lands south of [[Mordor]], perhaps [[Khand]] and before reaching the coasts of [[Haradwaith]] they turned north into [[Ithilien]], and eventually were the first to cross the [[Anduin]] (probably near [[Cair Andros]]). Then they settled in the northern vales and wooden lands of the [[White Mountains]] in both sides, later known as [[Púkel-Men]].<ref name="TD"/>

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Historians in [[Gondor]] believed that they came from lands south of [[Mordor]], perhaps [[Khand]], and before reaching the coasts of [[Haradwaith]] they turned north into [[Ithilien]]. They were the first to cross the [[Anduin]] (probably near [[Cair Andros]]) and settled in the northern vales and wooden lands of the [[White Mountains]] in both sides; this people carved crude figures of stone, and would later be known as [[Púkel-men]].<ref name="TD"/>

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They were joined by the ancestors of the [[Haladin]] and stayed on friendly terms. When the core of their team was pressed to wander on, some Drúedain accompanied them to [[Beleriand]].<ref name="TD"/>

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They were joined by the ancestors of the [[Haladin]] and stayed on friendly terms. When the core of their team was pressed to wander on, some Drúedain accompanied them to [[Beleriand]].<ref name="TD"/> Those lived among the Haladin, in the forest of [[Brethil]].

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The other remained in the Mountains, in spite of their persecution by later-arrived tall [[Men of Darkness]] from the East, who hunted the Drúedain and brought them almost to extinction. They fled into the forests of [[Anórien]] and down the [[Andrast|Cape of Andrast]] into [[Drúwaith Iaur]].<ref name="TD"/>

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Their cousins remained in the Mountains, until the arrival of tall [[Men of Darkness]] from the East, who hunted the Drúedain and brought them almost to extinction. The survivors fled into the forests of [[Anórien]] and down the [[Andrast|Cape of Andrast]] into [[Drúwaith Iaur]].<ref name="TD"/>

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Groups of remaining Drúedain became numerous but were troubled by a barbarous fisher-folk which dwelt in the marshlands between the mouths of the [[Gwathló]] and Isen<ref>{{UT|Galadriel}}</ref><ref name="I">{{UT|Isen}}</ref>

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Groups of remaining Drúedain became numerous but were troubled by a barbarous fisher-folk which dwelt in the marshlands between the mouths of the [[Gwathló]] and [[Isen]].<ref>{{UT|Galadriel}}</ref><ref name="I">{{UT|Isen}}</ref>

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The Drúedain of Beleriand lived among the Second House of Men, the [[Haladin]], in the [[First Age]] in the forest of [[Brethil]].

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===Second Age===

===Second Age===

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Later, a number of the Drúedain were present in [[Númenor]], but they had left or died out before the [[Downfall of Númenor|Downfall]], as had the Púkel-men of [[Dunharrow]].<ref name="TD"/>

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A number of the Drúedain were present in [[Númenor]] but started leaving the island during the time of [[Tar-Aldarion]], foreseeing the evil that would come.<ref name="TD"/>

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Those between Isen and Gwathló and Isen were reduced to a few tribes of fishers and fowlers.<ref name="I"/> They began to fear the [[Númenóreans]] and when their occupation of the coastlands began, the Woses survived in the mountains of the promontory of [[Andrast]], which was never occupied by the Númenóreans.<ref name="TD"/> They were the reason why the [[Pre-Númenóreans]] hunted by the Sea Kings did not cross the [[Isen]] nor take refuge in the Cape, because they were afraid of the Pukel-men.<ref>{{UT|Galadriel}}</ref>

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Those between Isen and [[Gwathló]] were reduced to a few tribes of fishers and fowlers.<ref name="I"/> They began to fear the [[Númenóreans]] and when their occupation of the coastlands began, they retreated in the mountains of [[Andrast]], which was never occupied by the Númenóreans.<ref name="TD"/> Some [[Pre-Númenóreans]] also wished to flee the Sea Kings, however they were afraid of the Púkel-men and did not cross the [[Isen]] nor take refuge in the Cape.<ref>{{UT|Galadriel}}</ref>

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By the [[Downfall of Númenor]], all Drúedain had left the island, as had the Púkel-men of [[Dunharrow]].<ref name="TD"/>

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===Third Age===

At the end of the Third Age they still lived in the Drúadan Forest of the [[White Mountains]], and at the long cape of [[Andrast]] west of [[Gondor]]. The region north of Andrast was still known as [[Drúwaith Iaur]], or "Old Drûg land".

At the end of the Third Age they still lived in the Drúadan Forest of the [[White Mountains]], and at the long cape of [[Andrast]] west of [[Gondor]]. The region north of Andrast was still known as [[Drúwaith Iaur]], or "Old Drûg land".

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Though the Drúedain largely held themselves apart from the troubles and calamities of Middle-earth, they were clearly a good-hearted people: their most significant contribution to the [[Free peoples]] was showing the [[Rohirrim]] paths through their forest. Without their aid, the Rohirrim would have arrived at the [[Pelennor Fields]] much later, suffering losses from an [[Orcs|Orc]] army that was waiting for them. The Woses then used poison-darts and arrows to hold off an army of Orcs searching for the Rohirrim.

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Though the Drúedain largely held themselves apart from the troubles and calamities of Middle-earth, they were clearly a good-hearted people: their most significant contribution to the [[Free peoples]] was showing the [[Rohirrim]] paths through the [[Drúadan Forest]]. Without their aid, the Rohirrim would have arrived at the [[Pelennor Fields]] much later, suffering losses from an [[Orcs|Orc]] army that was waiting for them. The Woses then used poison-darts and arrows to hold off an army of Orcs searching for the Rohirrim.

Beyond that, though, their contribution to the history of Middle-earth is little. Even after the [[War of the Ring]], when [[Aragorn|King Elessar]] granted the Drúadan Forest to be theirs forever, they never showed their faces again, nor was any alliance or trading system struck up between them and Gondor.

Beyond that, though, their contribution to the history of Middle-earth is little. Even after the [[War of the Ring]], when [[Aragorn|King Elessar]] granted the Drúadan Forest to be theirs forever, they never showed their faces again, nor was any alliance or trading system struck up between them and Gondor.

Contents

History

First Age

The Drúedain were part of the Edain who left Hildórien for the West. They were harried and persecuted by other Men which made them secretive and suspicious. They wandered west seeking a land where they could be hidden and have peace.[1]

Historians in Gondor believed that they came from lands south of Mordor, perhaps Khand, and before reaching the coasts of Haradwaith they turned north into Ithilien. They were the first to cross the Anduin (probably near Cair Andros) and settled in the northern vales and wooden lands of the White Mountains in both sides; this people carved crude figures of stone, and would later be known as Púkel-men.[1]

They were joined by the ancestors of the Haladin and stayed on friendly terms. When the core of their team was pressed to wander on, some Drúedain accompanied them to Beleriand.[1] Those lived among the Haladin, in the forest of Brethil.

Groups of remaining Drúedain became numerous but were troubled by a barbarous fisher-folk which dwelt in the marshlands between the mouths of the Gwathló and Isen.[2][3]

Second Age

A number of the Drúedain were present in Númenor but started leaving the island during the time of Tar-Aldarion, foreseeing the evil that would come.[1]

Those between Isen and Gwathló were reduced to a few tribes of fishers and fowlers.[3] They began to fear the Númenóreans and when their occupation of the coastlands began, they retreated in the mountains of Andrast, which was never occupied by the Númenóreans.[1] Some Pre-Númenóreans also wished to flee the Sea Kings, however they were afraid of the Púkel-men and did not cross the Isen nor take refuge in the Cape.[4]

Third Age

At the end of the Third Age they still lived in the Drúadan Forest of the White Mountains, and at the long cape of Andrast west of Gondor. The region north of Andrast was still known as Drúwaith Iaur, or "Old Drûg land".

Though the Drúedain largely held themselves apart from the troubles and calamities of Middle-earth, they were clearly a good-hearted people: their most significant contribution to the Free peoples was showing the Rohirrim paths through the Drúadan Forest. Without their aid, the Rohirrim would have arrived at the Pelennor Fields much later, suffering losses from an Orc army that was waiting for them. The Woses then used poison-darts and arrows to hold off an army of Orcs searching for the Rohirrim.

Beyond that, though, their contribution to the history of Middle-earth is little. Even after the War of the Ring, when King Elessar granted the Drúadan Forest to be theirs forever, they never showed their faces again, nor was any alliance or trading system struck up between them and Gondor.

There is no record of their acts in the Fourth Age, but it is clear that they never mingled with the Free Peoples, content to live their mysterious life in the Drúadan Forest, until they faded away into the mists of history and legend.

Characteristics

In appearance, the Woses were short, stumpy-bodied men, possibly related to the Pukel-men of ancient Rohan. They had disproportionate bodies and small, sunken eyes that glowed red when they were angry or suspicious. Elves described them as 'unlovely', and it is clear that they were, though not evil, as their appearance led many to believe.

Names

Drughu: the Drúedain's own name for themselves. Drughu is ultimately the source of the Sindarin 'Drú' and many of the other names they are known by.

Drúath: An earlier Sindarin collective (that means, plural) term for the Drúedain, modified as early as the First Age when it became known that they were enemies of the orcs. Later used to refer to a large number of the Drúedain as opposed to 'Drúin' which was a simple pluralisation (As 'Woses' to the singular 'Wose') and Drúedain, used to refer to the race as a whole.

Drúadan/Drúedain: Meaning 'Drú-men'. It also has possessive qualities as in the case of Drúadan Forest

Róg/Rógin:Rohirric terminology, singular/plural respectively (as in 'Drúg'/'Drúedain'. In Tolkien's text it is translated as Wose(s).

Wose/Woses: A term borrowed from Old English by Tolkien as a translation of the Rohhirric 'Róg'. This is perhaps the most common term used by readers of the text.

Rú/Rúatani: Quenya terms for the Drughu, derived from their Sindarin counterparts. Singular/plural respectively.

Etymology

The word Wose represents Tolkien's translation of the actual word róg of the Rohirrim into archaic English.

"Woses" is Anglicized (modernized) from the Old English word wāsan meaning "wild, neglected". It is seen in the name Wuduwasas (who are the direct inspiration of the Woses) and means "Wild men of the woods".

Inspirations

In Western folklore, the "wuduwasa" or "wood man" is a hairy, troll-like being supposed to inhabit woods and forests; the figure was used on coats-of-arms and illuminations during the middle-ages up to the renaissance.

Both the description of Woses, as well as the word "Wose" itself, derives from this folkloric figure. According to Tolkien his idea was to show the actual existence of wild folk, remnants of former peoples driven out by invaders, living a debased and savage life in forests and mountains.[5]